STAYHotel Certosa di
Maggiano
Just a kilometre from the centro storico, this refined four-star
hotel is set on parkland in a restored 14th-century Carthusian
monastery. Its 17 rooms and suites are all converted monks' cells
and its stylish restaurant, Il Canto, is one of Italy's finest. A
heated pool, tennis court, spa and a jogging track are among the
many amenities available. Rooms from $522 per night. Hotel
Certosa di Maggiano, Strada di Certosa 82, +39 0577 288
180

DO
At the foot of the 100-metre-tall Torre del Mangia on the vast,
scallop-shaped Piazza del Campo, which doubles as a racetrack for
Il Palio, the 13th-century Palazzo Pubblico is a lovely building.
Inside, it's an embarras de richesses for art lovers. Not to be
missed are two Renaissance masterpieces: Il Buon Governo
by Ambrogio Lorenzetti and Guidoriccio da Fogliano by
Simone Martini. You'll have seen them on postcards but the genuine
articles are something else. Palazzo Pubblico, Piazza del Campo
1, +39 0577 292 111

SHOP
Lined in Renaissance times with banks, patrician palazzi and guild
workshops, Via Banchi di Sotto and Via Banchi di Sopra, now locals
and tourists flock there to shop for everything from food to
fashion. At Morbidi (Via Banchi di Sopra 75) you'll find
Tuscan charcuterie and cheese, while Liberty (Via Banchi di Sopra
28) offers designer clothes and shoes. For the best panforte and
cantucci in town, head to Bar Nannini Conca d'Oro
pâtisserie (Via Banchi di Sopra 24), run by the Nannini family,
famous thanks to the exploits of whizz-kid scions rock star Gianna
and her brother, ex-Formula One racing driver Alessandro.

DRINK
Housed in the 15th-century palace of the same name, a stone's
throw from Piazza del Campo, Enoteca Palazzo Piccolomini
(Via del Paradiso 56) stocks a staggering assortment of wines and
spirits, while close by, Enoteca I Terzi (Via
dei Termini 7) has about 1800 labels in its 13th-century cellar, a
number of which are always available by the glass and for group
tastings. The popular Compagnia dei
Vinattieri (Via delle Terme 79), in a basement opposite the
house where Saint Catherine, the city's patron saint, was born, is
the place to go for apéritifs of an evening.

EATOsteria Le Logge
This centrally situated modern restaurant is run by Brunello di
Montalcino producer Gianni Brunelli. It's housed in a former
pharmacy and the original display cabinets are still part of the
décor in the ground-floor dining room where classic Tuscan cuisine
is served, revisited with contemporary tweaks. Via del Porrione
33

Antica Osteria da Divo
The magical dining spaces here are hewn out of the tufa rock of
ancient Etruscan tombs. The menu, which alternates traditional with
creative, is unabashedly carnivore-leaning, but occasionally
features seafood, too. The wine list is excellent. Via
Franciosa 25-29

Hosteria Il Carroccio
A typical osteria with outside tables, this is a great place to
enjoy hearty, unfussy Tuscan fare: hence tripe in tomato and chilli
sauce, ribollita, pappardelle with wild boar ragù, and more besides
on a menu that changes monthly. Via Casato di Sotto 32

DON'T MISS
The Palio, held twice a year on 2 July and 16 August, is an
inebriating experience. But so is the lead-up, when competing
neighbourhoods become scenes of drum-rolling parades and riotous
banqueting.

DAYTRIPPING
The walled towns of Monteriggioni and San Gimignano with its 16
medieval towers, the wine hills of Montalcino, the "ideal" city of
Pienza and Etruscan Volterra are all an hour or less by car from
Siena. Take your pick.

GETTING THERESingapore Airlines has multiple
flights from Australia to Singapore, with three connections to Rome
a week. Local carriers offer connections between Rome and
Siena.

DON'T MISS
The Palio, held twice a year on 2 July and 16 August, is an
inebriating experience. But so is the lead-up, when competing
neighbourhoods become scenes of drum-rolling parades and riotous
banqueting.

DAYTRIPPING
The walled towns of Monteriggioni and San Gimignano with its 16
medieval towers, the wine hills of Montalcino, the "ideal" city of
Pienza and Etruscan Volterra are all an hour or less by car from
Siena. Take your pick.

GETTING THERESingapore Airlines has multiple
flights from Australia to Singapore, with three connections to Rome
a week. Local carriers offer connections between Rome and
Siena.

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